A to Z of Detox Foods

Acai Berries	They might only be tiny, but acai berries are one of the most potent forms of antioxidants in the world – and powerful metabolism boosters. Antioxidants protect the body from the over-production of free radicals – chemicals which can cause damage to proteins, fats, carbohydrates and DNA in the body. Make the most of this amazing ‘super food’ and stock up.
Alfalfa Sprouts	These tiny sprouts are mild diuretics to help cleanse the kidney and also regulate bowel movement.
Apples	There are whole diet plans built around the detoxing power of the humble apple. The fibre-rich fruit is full of skin-boosting vitamin E, folic acid and vitamin C, among other natural antioxidants.
Artichokes	Artichokes contain inulin, which is a type of carbohydrate that has been shown to decrease the hunger hormone ghrelin
Asparagus	Asparagus is a serious disease killer -- it's been linked to fewer incidences of heart disease, colon cancer, liver disease, and spina bifida.
Asparagus	Asparagus is a diuretic, and can help your body get rid of unwanted toxins faster. It is also great at reducing bloating and inflammation in the digestive system, so get steaming for a flatter tummy in a flash.
Basil	The herb is packed with antioxidants to flush out unwanted toxins.
Bean Sprouts	Bean sprouts are good all-round health boosters as they are extremely low in calories, but contain a full set of vitamins (A, B, C, D, E and K), as well as essential folic acid, iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc. These elements combined can improve overall health and vitality, and help you keep your energy levels up for longer.
Beets	Fiber in beets help increase the production of antioxidant enzymes in the liver, which help the liver and gallbladder eliminate bile and other toxic substances from the body.
Bok Choy	The calcium, potassium, vitamin C and folic acid in bok choy made this cousin of cabbage a serious nutritional powerhouse.
Brazil Nuts	All unsalted, unprocessed nuts are good for you, but for detoxing, brazil nuts are definitely worth a look in. They are particularly potent sources of a mineral called selenium, which helps to actively increase the number of infection-fighting white blood cells in the body and strengthens their fighting power. Also packed into those tough brown shells is hair and skin-boosting vitamin E, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium and iron
Broccoli	Broccoli, according to Avanti's book, is a source of water-insoluble fibre that aids the growth of gut bacteria, organisms that eat sugars and fibre and prevent the proliferation of bad bacteria that can make us sick.
Brown Rice	Swapping out processed white carbs for brown wholegrains is a good move health-wise, whether you’re detoxing or not. But one particular grain just pips others to the post in terms of nutritional value – brown rice. A portion a day provides a rich source of B vitamins, protein, manganese, selenium and magnesium as well as several potent antioxidants which are thought to help protect against disease, as well as boosting the skin’s vitality
Brussels Sprouts	Brussels sprouts are hugely nutritious, beneficially impacting cholesterol, stress and cancer prevention. For weight loss, it's the amount of fibre in the sprouts that helps with digestion, preventing constipation and keeping blood sugar in check.
Cabbage	With lots of fibre, cabbage aids the performance of the digestive system, therefore helping clean the stomach and intestines of toxins.
Carrots	Carrot juice is a favourite among detox devotees, because the root vegetables are a full of antioxidant vitamins, minerals and beta carotene. They are particularly good when combined with the cleansing powers of aloe, apple and manuka honey, too.
Cauliflower	Full of calcium and low in calories, cauliflower is an easy to any side dish or main -- or as a snack with a dash of low-sodium soy sauce.
Celery	Lots of vitamin C means celery helps with immunity as well as fighting free radicals. Its low calorie count has long been suspected to result in "negative" calories -- whichapparently is true, though it would require many stalks to make a real difference in weight.
Cucumber	Cucumbers contain fibre, vitamin A and vitamin C, but it's really the texture and surprising hardiness of these veggies that make them a great snack.
Dark Leafy Greens	eat them raw, throw them into a broth, add them to juices, or sauté them with a touch of olive oil.Leafy greens boost chlorophyll levels in the digestive tract, which helps the body get rid of environmental toxins like smog and herbicides.
Eggplant	Eggplants contain water-insoluble fibre, which adds bulk to the diet and helps our bowels 'exercise.'
Fennel	This liquorice-flavoured root vegetable is packed with vitamin C, potassium, and manganese to name a few, and has long been used as a remedy for digestive problems and as well as eye and breathing disorders. Thanks in part to its high dietary fibre content, it is also a wonderful detox supplement, promoting healthy digestion, reducing swelling in the body, and flushing out toxins and excess fluids diuretically. It’s great for the hair too,
Flaxseeds	Just two tablespoons of flaxseed is enough to provide you with over 100% of your daily allowance of omega 3 fatty acids; good fats which, rather than sticking to your waistline, support healthy cell development and promote a healthy heart. The seeds are also packed full of metabolising manganese (a trace mineral used for several vital bodily functions) and dietary fibre, which aids the body’s natural detoxification process by helping digestion.
Garlic	It might make your breath smell a bit, but there’s no denying the good garlic will do for your health. Each clove is packed not just with toxin-battling antioxidants, but also a naturally occurring chemical called allicin. When digested, allicin reacts with the blood to create a product capable of killing off many harmful bacteria and viruses that your body may be harbouring. Garlic is also thought to be effective in lowering cholesterol, regulating blood pressure
Ginger and Garlic	Ginger and garlic are good friends to the liver because they help it get rid of free radicals that are built up in the body. Make yourself a healthy stir-fry and don't be shy to season it with these two liver-loving foods.
Goji Berries	The husky red fruits, which can often be found in a dried form in health food shops, are like little bombs of vitamins, iron and beta carotene – a compound which has been linked to aiding the body fight cancer and heart disease. Pick up a bag as a healthy afternoon snack, or sprinkle a handful over your (preferably wholegrain) cereal in the morning for a serious antioxidant boost.
Grapefruit	As well as its metabolism-boosting properties, grapefruits are thought to rid the body of unwanted toxins thanks to the high levels of vitamin C they contain.
Green Beans	Green beans have plenty of vitamin C, along with antioxidants like carotenoids and flavonoids that fight off free radicals in the body.
Green Tea	It's high incatechins — a flavonoid — which speeds up liver activity and increases the production of detoxification enzymes.
Kale	Like Brussels sprouts, kale works with the fibre compounds and bile acid in the stomach to help get rid of that acid, and therefore lower cholesterol -- particularly when it's steamed.
Kale	Wonder food green kale is not only a fabulous source of fibre and folate, but a myriad of detoxing antioxidants, including vitamins A, B6, C, K, as well as beautifying calcium and pH balancing potassium.
Leeks	Part of the onion and garlic family, leeks can be used in almost any dish, and are known for their 'low energy density' -- very few calories packed into something that can fill you up.
Lemon	each fruit is packed full of vitamin C, lemons are thought to aid the restoration of the body’s acid-alkali balance, keeping your insides at a steady pH. This means that your body is better able to support healthy bacteria and assist the removal of environmental and dietary toxins in the body. Try drinking the juice of one lemon in a mug of hot water as a morning beverage, and see if it makes a difference.
Lemongrass	Often used in south east Asian dishes, lemongrass is a great detoxifying ingredient to keep handy. Add to clear soups and green tea for an added antioxidant boost.
Lettuce	Lettuce is, frankly, a good filler food -- it has fibre in it to help digestion, and the darker the leaves, the better it is for you.
Mushrooms	Mushrooms contain some surprising nutrients, like selenium (which has been found to combat bladder cancer), vitamin D, and vitamins B1 and B2, which help the body burn energy.
Okra	Thanks to okra's "gelatinous" coating, it absorbs water and moves through the digestive system easily, taking with it toxins, cholesterol and bile.
Onion	Onions – particularly red and green ones – are packed with sulphur-containing amino acids, which help your body to flush toxins out of your system by making them water soluble. They also contain the building blocks for an essential liver compound called glutathione, which it needs in order to carry out your body’s natural detoxification process.
Onions	Onions contain a nutrient called allicin, which can help lower blood pressure and prevent cancer.
Papaya	Not only does papaya contain a mammoth 300% of your Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin C, but it also boasts natural enzymes that promote healthy digestion.
Parsley	Parlsey may be thought of as a garnish, but this herb helps cleanse the kidney, aids in digestion of protein and fats and boost immunity.
Parsley	Eat the garnish! The high levels of vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin C and K parsley contains make it an excellent cleanser and a great anti-inflammatory for the kidneys and bladder, too.
Pineapple	Tropical fruits like pineapple are rich in antioxidant vitamins B and C, as well as essential detoxing minerals such as copper and manganese.
Pomegranate	Each jewel-toned seed contains high levels of antioxidants called ‘flavenoids’, as well as vitamins A, C and E, folic acid and iron, which supports the blood in transporting oxygen around the body. Because of these nutritional benefits, pomegranates are famed for improving skin quality.
Pumpkin	Alpha-carotene has been correlated with the slowing of aging, and pumpkin has plenty to spare -- meanwhile, the fibre in the gourd, whether raw or from a can, helps with weight loss.
Radishes	The amylase in radishes has been found to aid in the digestion of carbohydrates, so can be a good addition to any pasta meal.
Relish	Pickle relish can add to a meal easily, and its fermented qualities can act as probiotics for your digestive tract. Just be sure to stay away from the 'sweet' option, which usually uses high fructose corn syrup.
Sauerkraut	The fermentation process that creates sauerkraut has the great side effect of creating lactic acid, which helps stimulate the pancreas, reduce blood pressure, promote healthy sleep and help alleviate constipation.
Spinach	A good source of fibre, spinach also has a ton of vitamin K, which helps with blood clotting and coagulation.
Tomatoes	Tomatoes are well-known for their carotenoids, and can help increase insulin sensitivity and prevent stress-related weight gain in the abdomen.
Turnips	Though turnips really only have vitamin C and a bit of fibre to recommend them, they also don't have many calories associated with them, making them a quick and easy snack if you have them on hand.
Water	Drink heaps of water to keep yourself properly hydrated, allowing the rest of your body’s systems to get into action cleaning itself up.
Watercress	It keeps free radicals away from your cells, helpsenergize cleansing enzymes in the liver, and is a natural diuretic.
Wheatgrass	A popular ingredient in detox juices and smoothies, wheatgrass is thought to have unique and powerful cleansing abilities thanks to the scores of different vitamins and minerals it contains. Benefits range from flushing out the liver and blood to curing acne and even preventing grey hair.
Zucchini	Zucchini is full of fibre, helping move things through the intestines, and it also fills more filling than it is in terms of calories, helping keep you from snacking.